A92138:1308
The divine right of church-government and excommunication
The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peaceable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justified, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examined; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.The divine right of church-government and excommunication: or a peacable dispute for the perfection of the holy scripture in point of ceremonies and church government; in which the removal of the Service-book is justifi'd, the six books of Tho: Erastus against excommunication are briefly examin'd; with a vindication of that eminent divine Theod: Beza against the aspersions of Erastus, the arguments of Mr. William Pryn, Rich: Hooker, Dr. Morton, Dr. Jackson, Dr. John Forbes, and the doctors of Aberdeen; touching will-worship, ceremonies, imagery, idolatry, things indifferent, an ambulatory government; the due and just powers of the magistrate in matters of religion, and the arguments of Mr. Pryn, in so far as they side with Erastus, are modestly discussed. To which is added, a brief tractate of scandal ... / By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Published by authority.
London: printed by John Field for Christopher Meredith, 1646
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. The word [Greek or Hebrew] is Num. 35. 12. But in all that Chapter [Greek or Hebrew] is not, but [Greek or Hebrew]: Now how this signifieth one Magistrate, which ever signifieth a collection or multitude of rulers, I ⟨p. 477⟩leave to the learned: so Erast. faileth yet in his probation. 2. Suppose the word Church signify the heads of the people, how shall Erastus prove that [Greek or Hebrew] signifieth the senate of Civill Magistrates, for in this Congregation were the Priests and Levites, especially, that judge between blood and blood, voluntary or involuntary homicide, Deut. 17. •2, 13, 14. 2 Chr. 19. 8, 9. It is true also that the man that killed another unwittingly, was to be protected in the City of refuge, while he should stand before the faces [Greek or Hebrew] of the Congregation, But let Erastus, and all who will have the Bishop or the Pope the representative Church, know that [Greek or Hebrew] the Congregation, ever, and always be a1 collective word, as populus the people, signifieth a multitude, & never by Grammar, one single man, hoc nomen (saith Pagnine) certum conventum▪ sive cetum significat, certum Collegium, it always signifieth a society: as the Princes of the Congregation Num. 16. 2. all the Princes [Greek or Hebrew] in the Congregation, Exo. 34. 31. here is a number and a society, [Greek or Hebrew] saith Aristotle can be attributed to no fewer then to three at least. Speak to all the Congregation of Israel [Greek or Hebrew] Exodus 12. 3. and the Congregations of peoples [Greek or Hebrew] shall compass thee about, Psal. 7. 8. Nor shall sinners stand [Greek or Hebrew] in the Congregation of the just,